Feel Like Complaining

My Mom had all sorts of little boxes, some old and others she had decorated; but each had a purpose. This little basket was her mom's, used mostly as a sewing box. Look at this little cutie. It was also her mom's and Mom used it for straight pins, which are still there. All I know is that it was made in Mexico and I think it's adorable. This was her lunch box. Kids don't know what a great variety of containers they have to carry their lunch in these days. It still had her little ruler in it. It's all dented up and her last name was scratched in the top--no label makers in the 30's. Once a plain old recipe card holder, she could never resist decorating something. This sat on her kitchen counter and held tape and all sorts of odds and ends (like a mini junk drawer) and I've left it all as it was. Once just a plain cardboard box, she painted and decoupaged this. She even used a sort of star shaped cork for a lid handle. I don't remember what was in it but I...

Sometimes it's annoying when someone wants to book a dog for just one night. It's hard to get to know them and by the time they're comfortable here, it's time to go. Hank came for a night because his parents were having a party or something and sometimes you just don't want the kids around.  He's only 5 but looks and moves like a much older dog. He does have thyroid issues so maybe that's why he's a bit chonky. He whined off and on for several hours but slowly came around. He found a toy he liked outside but also went after the neighbor dogs through the fence. He finally learned that when they started barking, it was time to come in. He slept pretty good, just whining occasionally. By morning, as with most dogs, he acted like he'd been here for days. The next weekend I spent one night at his house. I arrived a little bit before his parents left so she showed me around. I've stayed in 2 young couples' homes in 4 years and the only word that co...

Last weekend we took some time and went to Lake Chelan for 3 nights. I may have been there as a kid but have no memories of it, so it was all new to me (us). It's a beautiful lake but other than boating or fishing, there's not a lot to do. We did find a nice paved walk that crossed over the bridge so you get to walk on both sides of the lake. After that, we walked through town and did a bit of shopping. We all had tired feet that night.  The motel had 2 pools (1 in, 1 out) and 2 outdoor hot tubs, but what do pools draw in? Kids. I have nothing against kids using facilities but the same group of pre teen boys were in the indoor pool for hours doing their usual thing; cannonballs. The pool had limits set on how many could be in there but no one ever checked. Then families would come in with all 8 of their kids and it was just too much for me. Tony was in one hot tub and Faith and I went in another. It was so darn cold and windy that when we jumped out we had to run for our lives ...

 I  take back what I said about Ooshie being a good squirrel obsessed walker. If the squirrels are in the trees, it's not bad. BUTTTTTTT.....if they are on the ground, she becomes a rocket and I am along for the ride. The last walk I did with her was just in her neighborhood and she was awful.  A block away from the house she started chasing and I wrapped the leash around my left arm to try and gain control. That didn't work so I switched to my right hand which is the one I have the most pain/weakness in. I totally lost control and it was all I had in me not to fall, all the while yelling Oooooossssshhhhiiiiieeeee! But I did manage to wet my pants from the struggle and that made me start crying. I was so embarrassed because I'm sure people were watching the show. So now I was a hot and sweaty crying woman with wet pants.  I was so mad when we got back, I wrote her parents a note of what happened. In essence, telling her that I would not be seeing them again. Later th...

I spent the weekend with this girl Ooshie. The actual spelling is Usi but people probably have a hard time pronouncing it. She was rescued from Bosnia and maybe Usi means something, but the only thing I could find for a meaning was a Tongan swear word; fuck you, eat shit. So I doubt that's it. She's 4 years old and needs two walks a day. Thankfully she's very easy to walk and only needs a slip lead. The only thing that makes her a bit difficult to walk is that she is obsessed with squirrels. Whether she hears them in the trees or not, she believes they're there and pulls a bit. But we've had tiny dogs behave much worse around squirrels so it's a nice change.  She lives right by a huge park that I haven't been to in years. I knew I would never make it to see the whole thing, but enjoyed seeing the renovated duck pond. I have put on a good many steps this weekend (partially because I got lost), but she enjoyed it! Other than two walks a day and feeding her, sh...

We've been really busy doing a little home improvements. By WE, I mean we hire people to do things because if it doesn't involve dirt, plants, or weeds, we are not capable. Nothing has been real big but it's just stuff that we could never afford before. I'm embarrassed to say that most of these should have been done 10+ years ago. Used washer/dryer (I'm still thrifty). Replaced back storm door. New garage door jam/knobs/keys. Some plumbing work. New dishwasher (I'm in love). Two new light fixtures downstairs.  I ordered some faux ivy privacy fencing. I'm sure you've seen them online and I had a real bad experience with a dealer from China. It's such a long story I'm not even going to go into it. I found some better stuff and although it was a process to cut and zip tie to our fence, it looks OK. Just OK. Since our house sits higher, when people walk by their little eyeballs are at looking right into our back yard. I'm sure most are admiring m...

This past week I was away sitting for one of my regulars. I haven't seen Pippin and Chloe for a year-and-a-half, right before Covid. They're both starting to show their age. The boy wears a diaper at night and the little girl has lost a lot of weight which makes her even tinier! Her hair is thinning like a sweet lil ol lady and I can see her skin through her fur. She tore her acl jumping off the couch and needs to be carried down/up the stairs to heal better. The only way outside is down those stairs, so at least 8 times a day, away we go. She's still quite spunky though, especially when hunting down poop to eat. I was carrying her up one day and she had something sticking out of the side of her mouth. I thought maybe a stick or leaf, but noooooo, it was a very dry cat turd (I'm assuming). I grabbed it and said 'You must think I'm a dummy to not notice that cigar'. Don't let that innocent face fool you. On Friday Tony and Faith got a new boy, Hendrix, to...